Terenzuola

Terenzuola is located near Fosdinovo, the only Tuscan municipality covered by Colli di Luni DOC region, which mostly belongs to Ligurian province La Spezia. The farm is nestled in a beautiful position, five minutes away from the coast, with some of the vineyards placed at an altitude of 350 metres above sea level.
In the early 1930s, after the Great Depression, Luigi Giuliani returned to Italy from New York. He purchased the estate, of an extension of three hectares, as he thought it would be ideal for the growing of vines, olive groves, vegetables and for the production of honey.
Ívan Giuliani, nephew of Carlo, who had managed the estate inherited from his father Luigi for thirty years, started working at Terenzuola in 1993, when he took the helm of this small family-run business. In 1995 when Ívan returned home after military service he decided to become a vigneron for life. He immediately started planting new vineyards and started to vinify Vermentino grapes which achieved perfect ripeness in order to avoid the typical bitterness of the variety.
At that time Ívan also started to search for old vineyards in the area at the foot of the hills in the areas of Fosdinovo, Castelnuovo and Sarzana. He had also an idea to cultivate grape varieties ideally suitable for this terroir. He discovered that there are some indigenous varieties, which may be cultivated and successfully vinified as well. That was the moment when he became amongst very few producers in Italy, who re-started to work with Vermentino Nero and Canaiolo Nero (particular biotype of Canaiolo found within that territory and locally called “Uva Merla”).
From the beginning Terenzuola has entered the path of respecting the land, using only natural fertilizers and biological treatments against parasites. In next few years Ívan is planing to receive organic farming certification. In the cellars he is being assisted by cellar-master Claudio. Ívan smiles, that with him they are on the “same wave” of understanding how to master Terenzuola’s wine.